Blade mount for belt mower

ABSTRACT

An endless belt type cutter assembly for a mower having cutter blades of the impact type fixed at spaced intervals and projecting outwardly from one edge of the belt, the blades being connected to the belt by means permitting limited yieldability.

United States Patent Hurlburt et al. 1 Oct. 17, 1972 [54] BLADE MOUNTFOR BELT MOWER [56 References Cited [72] lnventors: Joseph C. Hurlburt,Leola', Horace UNITED STATES PATENTS G. McCarty, Lancaster, both of Pa.;Norman Luca". Lake oswego' 3,545,188 12/1970 Locatl ..56/245 0 2.5l4.86l 7/1950 Hackerott .56/291 X [731 Assignees: Sperry RandCorporation, New Holprimary peshock land, 6 omllk llldllsu'iesy 'sAssistant Examiner-J. A. Oliff Portland oreg- Attorney-John C. Thompson,George C. Bower, [22] Filed: March 23 1971 Joseph A. Brown, Larry L.Coats and James J. Kenne 211 Appl. No.: 127,111 y [57] ABSTRACT Anendless belt type cutter assembly for a mower hav- [52] U.S. Cl ..56/29ling cutter blades of the impact type fixed at spaced i 1 Int. Clt r r--A0ld te -vals and outwardly from one of [58] Field of Search ..56/244,245, 290-292 belt, the blades being connected to the belt by meanspermitting limited yieldability.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing, Figures PATENTEDnm 1 1 1922 INVENTOR JOSEPH c.HiURLBURT HORACE G MCARTY NORMAN C. LOCATl BLADE MOUNT FOR BELT MOWERCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present invention is shownin part, but not claimed, in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 66,370filed Aug. 24, 1970 and titled Cutter Bar for Mower, in the name ofJoseph C. Hurlburt, and copending U.S.

application Ser. No. 127,099 filed on even date herewith by Joseph C.I-Iurlburt titled BeltCarried Cutters and Mounting Means Therefore.

1. Field of Invention The present relates generally to agriculturalmachinery and more particularly to an impact mowing device in which aplurality of impact cutters are mounted on an endless flexible membersuch as a belt.

2. Background of the Invention In a mower of the class referred to abovethe flexible member is arranged with one course thereof disposedforwardly upon the device in such a manner that the impact cuttersmounted thereon engage standing stems and stalks of forage crops and thelike which are to be cut thereby. A typical type of such device is shownin U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,188 in the name of Locati. If the impact cuttersare rigidly mounted on the flexible member substantial difficultiesresult when such cutters encounter hard objects, such as stones, as wellas hillocks, both of which occur frequently in fields mowed by devicesof the type to which the present invention pertains. Serious injurysometimes is sustained by said cutters such as being bent, as well asbeing broken or torn from the mounting thereof upon the flexible member.

The Locati U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,188 also discloses in one embodiment aspring washer disposed between the blade or cutter element and the belt,the washer urging the cutter element into an extended position. When thecutter element impacts a solid object the cutter element folds backbehind a guard rail of the cutter bar.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is the principal object of the present inventionto provide an endless belt type cutter assembly for a mower or similarharvesting device for agricultural crops in which cutter blades of theimpact type are fixed to a belt or other flexible supporting member suchas a chain, cable or the like at spaced intervals to project outwardlyfrom one edge of the flexible member, the blades being connected to theflexible member by improved means which readily permit limiteddeflection of the blades with respect to the endless supporting member.In operation the improved means permit the blades to yield relative tothe supporting member when they engage an object that is eitherimmovable or too tough for the blade to cut or dislodge in such afashion that serious damage to the blades and their supporting member isavoided.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a relatively simple,compressible element in the means which connect each blade to saidflexible, endless supporting member, the compressible element normallymaintaining the blades in fixed operative positions but permittingyieldable, pivotal movement thereof when the blades encounter objectswhich would otherwise damage the same as indicated above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressible element ofthe type referred to above which is relatively easy to manufacture.

Another object of the invention. is to provide a compressible element ofthe class referred to above which will provide a more stable extendedposition for the cutter blades.

Another object of the invention. is to provide a compressible element ofthe class referred to above which has a long service life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressible elementadapted to be disposed between a cutting blade and a belt which whencompressed will not adversely effect the service life: of the belt.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a compressibleelement of the class referred to which can be formed to receive acutting blade mounting pin without imposing high stress areas in thecompressible element.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compressible elementof the class referred to in which its resilience or compressibility canbe easily controlled.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by disposing aresilient block, such as rubber or urethane, between the cutter elementsand the endless flexible element, the block being described in moredetail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of anexemplary cutter bar or assembly of the type to which the presentinvention pertains, this figure, as well as the other figures of thedrawings being drawn generally to scale.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the endlessflexible cutter assembly, showing a blade mounted upon the endlessflexible supporting member mounted in the cutter bar shown in FIG. 1 andillustrating connecting means for the blade which embodies principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cutter shown in FIG. 2, the same beingmounted on a fragmentarily illustrated portion of the endless flexiblesupporting member therefor.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a fragmentarily illustratedcutter means shown in FIG. 2 as seen on the Lines 4-4 of said figure.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a fragmentarily illustratedcutter means in which the cutter is shown in a deflected position.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the Lines6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of the connecting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS hay or the like, or the samemay be part of any one of a V number of agricultural machines used inharvesting and otherwise processing various kinds of forage crops andthe like.

The cutter bar unit includes an endless flexible supporting member 16,which, as shown in the various figures of the drawing, comprises aflexible V-belt. The principal purpose thereof is to support the cutterblades 18 in spaced relationship with respect to each other and move thesame, usually at a relatively high linear speed, in cutting direction,which is that which is illustrated by the arrows 20 in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The opposite end of the cutter bar unit 10 from that which is connectedto the mower shoe 12 is provided with an end shield 22. Said unit alsosupports a plurality of idler pulleys 24, along which opposite,substantially parallel courses of the endless flexible member 16 extend,the course nearest the upper edge of the;sheet in FIG. 1 representingthe forward, operative edge 26 of the cutter bar unit 10. Said unit alsoincludes a drive sheave 28 driven by a gear box 30, which is connectableto a tractor, p.t.o. of another type of agricultural implement, orotherwise, to derive power therefrom. The endless flexible member 16extends around another idler sheave 32 at the outer end of the unit 10.

The foregoing description primarily is to afford an illustration of thebasic structure to which the present invention pertains.

The cutter blades 18 are connected to the endless flexible supportingmember 16 by a compound type of connecting means. Each compoundconnecting means comprises a plurality of related elements affording apivotal connection of each blade 18 to the supporting member 16. Saidelements include what is termed a post or T-connector, indicatedgenerally at 34, WHICH HAS AN appropriate head 36 on the inner end whichengages the flexible supporting member 16 in such manner as to preventoutward movement of the opposite end or tang 38 of the post from themember 16. Each blade also is provided with a laterally extending flange40, which has an opening or slot 42 therein through which the oppositeend 38 of post 34 extends, said slot preferably being slightly longerthan the width of the post 38 so as to permit limited pivotal movementof the cutter blades with respect to the posts. As can best be seen fromFIG. 6 the flange 40 is generally parallel in transverse section to theouter surface 17 of the belt.

Each flange 40 has an arcuate seat 44 pressed thereinto, such seat beingshorter than the entire width of the flange 40 as is best shown in FIG.7. Said seat is readily formed in the flange 40 by a stamping orpressing operation, especially prior to said cutter blades beingtempered.

Each of the posts 34, intermediately of the ends thereof, is alsoprovided with a hole 46, best shown in FIG. 7, through which a solid ortubular pivot pin 48 extends transversely with close tolerance relativeto said hole 46.

A wedge-shaped yieldable or compressible structure or member, indicatedgenerally at 50, is disposed between and in resilient contact with theflange 40 of each cutter blade 18 and the outer face 17 of supportingmember 16. The member 50 is of a special shape having portions 52 and 54disposed forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of a recess 55 which isadapted to receive seat 44 of the flange 40. The trailing portion 54 hasa short portion with an upper surface 56 which lies in the same plane asthe upper surface 53 (FIG. 7) of the forward portion 52. Thecompressible structure or member 50 is preferably made of molded rubberor urethane. As it is well known in the art, the compressibility of therubber or urethane block can be varied by changing the formulation ofmaterial and the actual formulation is to a limited extent a matter ofchoice. However, it is necessary that the block is sufficiently firm tohold the knife firmly in its normal working position, and also firmenough to prevent the rear edge 41 of the knife from contacting theupper surface of the belt when the knife pivots away from its leadingedge after encountering a hard object as shown in FIG. 5. It is alsonecessary that the member 50 is sufficiently yieldable to permit theknife to swing rearwardly after encountering a hard object, the rearwardswinging of the knife compressing the portion under surface 56 of themember 50.

When the blades or knives 18 are mounted upon the belt 16 the block 50is slightly compressed. Thus, the members 50 are confined between thelower flange 40 of each knife and the upper surface of the belt, theupper surfaces 53 and 56 firmly engaging the flange 40 of the blades tomaintain the blades 18 in operative position with respect to thesupporting member 16 so that the blades 18 will not yield, except underabnormal conditions, and especially while engaging and cutting stems orstalks of pasture and forage crops which the blades are intended to cutunder normal conditions.

However, when any of the cutting blades are subjected to shock such aswhen they encounter a hard object such as a stone, tough hillock, clumpof grass, roots or other type of hard or tough object projecting from afield into the path of movement of the cutter blades 18, the blade orblades which are thus subjected to such shock will be permitted topivotally move a limit amount, in a direction opposite to that in whichthe assembly of cutter blade is moving in cutting direction, and therebyavoid serious damage either to the blade per se, the supporting member16, or the means by which the blades are connected to such supportingmember.

When the blades 18 are moved from their normal working position, shownin FIG. 2, to their deflected position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as aresult of substaining such shock, the short portion underlying surface56 of said other end portion 54 of the compressible member 50 iscompressed by the flange 40 of the blade as can best be seen from FIG.6. Due, however, to the limited volume of the portion underlying surface56, no excessive amount of resistance is offered to oppose such pivotalrearward movement of the blade. However, the portion under surface 56will immediately restore the blade 18 to and normally maintain it in itsoperative position relative to supporting member 16 after the blade haspassed such hard or tough object which caused such deflection. When theportion 56 is compressed the displaced volume of the block 50 flows tothe sides 50a, 50b FIG. 6 and the bottom surface 59 does not slide uponthe belt. It should also be noted that by employing a rubber orurethaneblock of the specific shape disclosed high stress areas areminimized, and the block is not likely to fatigue after extended usage.

Each of the compressible members 50 has an opening or slot 58 thereinthrough which the post 38 extends, whereby the member 50 is accuratelypositioned upon the post by the same. Also, the compressible na* ture ofthe members 50 aids in connecting the blades 18 to the posts 34 andcorrespondingly, to the supporting member 16. This is due to the factthat when the blades 18 are assembled with respect to supporting member16, the compressible member 50 for each blade is first mounted upon thepost 34 thereof, following which the upper ends 38 of the posts are eachinserted through the slot '42 in each flange 40 of the blades. Eachblade and flange is then compressed, by a suitable tool, toward thesupporting member 16, such compression being sufficient to dispose theouter edge of the flange 40, which is shown in FIG. 7 and defines oneend of the arcuate seat 44, either even with or below the lower edge ofhole 46 in the post 34, whereupon the pivot pin 48 may be insertedthrough hole 46 until the opposite ends thereof are in alignment withthe ends of the arcuate seat 44. Then the tool may be released to permitexpansion of the compressible member 50, which moves the arcuate seat 44into position to receive the pivot pin 48 and this completes theconnection of the blade 18 to its endless flexible sporting member 16.

When a conventional flexible V-belt comprises the supporting member 16,the same normally is formed from a number of layers of fabric which aresandwiched within a rubber body. Such product also is capable of beingcompressed a limited distance in a direction transverse to the lengththereof and advantage also may be taken of such compressible nature ofthe same likewise to facilitate the disposition of the arcuate seat 44in the blade flange 40 so as to receive the pivot pin 48, followingwhich the expansion of the member 16, as well as the compressible member50, will move the seat into firm engagement with the pivot pin 48.

When it is desired to replace either a single blade, several blades, orall of the blades, which are connected to the supporting member 16,especially under conditions where the flexible member 16 is stilluseable but the blades have been worn substantially beyond further use,disconnection of the blades from the flexible supporting member 16 isaccomplished by use of the same tool referred to above. Said tool isused to compress the member 50 and/or the supporting member 16 if ofcompressible nature so as to depress the arcuate seat 44 from engagementof the outer wall thereof with the pivot pin 48 which then may be forcedout of the hole 46. Removal of the blade from the post 34 then isquickly accomplished and a new blade may 'be substituted therefor byreversing such procedure.

In order to facilitate the removal of pin 48 from hole What is claimedis:

1. In combination with the blade assembly for a mower comprising aflexible belt adapted to be supported by a mower for guided movement, aplurality of cutter blades, and a plurality of connecting means carriedby said flexible belt at spaced intervals therealong and operable tosecure said blades to said flexible belt, each of each blades beingprovided with a flange, and each of said connecting means including apost extending outwardly from one surface of said belt and meansoperable to pivotally secure one of said blades to said post; thecombination therewith of a rubber-like compressible structure disposedbetween the flange of said blades and said one surface of said belt,said rubberlike structure having a surface generally conforming to theflange and extending rearwardly of said post and being operable tonormally hold the blade in a generally fixed extended position and beingfurther operable to yield when said blade strikes a solid object topermit limited pivotal deflection of said cutter blades from theirnormal operative position in a direction rearwardly from the directionof cutting movement thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said rubber-likestructure has substantial contact along said one surface of saidflexible belt.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said rubber-likestructure is wedge-shaped and serves to hold the flange of said cutterblades at an angle to said one surface of said belt.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said wedge-shapedrubber-like structure has a major portion and a short portion disposedto opposite sides of said posts along the direction of travel of saidflexible belt, the short portion being compressed upon rearward movementof the blade from its normal position.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rubber-likestructure is in contact with the belt along one side thereof, and has anopposite side in substantial contact with the flange of the cutter toeither side of the mounting post.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rubber-likestructure is separable from said flange and said one surface of theflexible belt.

1. In combination with the blade assembly for a mower comprising aflexible belt adapted to be supported by a mower for guided movement, aplurality of cutter blades, and a plurality of connecting means carriedby said flexible belt at spaced intervals therealong and operable tosecure said blades to said flexible belt, each of each blades beingprovided with a flange, and each of said connecting means including apost extending outwardly from one surface of said belt and meansoperable to pivotally secure one of said blades to said post; thecombination therewith of a rubber-like compressible structure disposedbetween the flange of said blades and said one surface of said belt,said rubber-like structure having a surface generally conforming to theflange and extending rearwardly of said post and being operable tonormally hold the blade in a generally fixed extended position and beingfurther operable to yield when said blade strikes a solid object topermit limited pivotal deflection of said cutter blades from theirnormal operative position in a direction rearwardly from the directionof cutting movement thereof.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 inwhich said rubber-like structure has substantial contact along said onesurface of said flexible belt.
 3. The combination according to claim 2wherein said rubber-like structure is wedge-shaped and serves to holdthe flange of said cutter blades at an angle to said one surface of saidbelt.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said wedge-shapedrubber-like structure has a major portion and a short portion disposedto opposite sides of said posts along the direction of travel of saidflexible belt, the short portion being compressed upon rearward movementof the blade from its normal position.
 5. The combination according toclaim 1 wherein said rubber-like structure is in contact with the beltalong one side thereof, and has an opposite side in substantial contactwith the flange of the cutter to either side of the mounting post. 6.The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rubber-like structureis separable from said flange and said one surface of the flexible belt.